Fixture support



June 14, 1960 R. BEAL FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed March 6, 1958 I v INVENTOR.

' Robert Bcol Fig.5

United States Patent Ofice m FIXTURE SUPPORT Robert Beal, Charlotte, Mich., assiguor to Structural Products, Inc., Charlotte, Mich., Michigan Filed Mar. 6, 1958, Ser- No. 719,653

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-245) This invention relates to adjustable supports for fixtures such as shelves, counter tops, and other articles of a similar nature.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel combination of supporting post and bracket structure which can be readily and quickly installed within a room at any point desired and which can be easily removed or shifted to another location.

A further object is to provide a bracket which is easily attached to and detached from the post and which can be quickly adjusted to different locations on the post.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which the principal parts, including post and bracket, can be formed by the extrusion process.

A still further object is to provide a bracket of extremely sturdy construction which places no stress other than shearing stress on the means used to clamp the bracket in place on the supporting post.

A still further object is to provide a supporting post on which brackets can be attached at numerous points about the perimeter thereof.

These objects are obtained'in part by a post of unique a corporation ofcross-section, in which longitudinally extending slots are formed in the outer wall thereof and internal webs connect the outer wall portions.

These objects are also obtained in part by means of a supporting block and fastening means therefor adapted to be clamped to the post through one of the slots, and by a bracket provided with a horizontal flange with a T shaped projection which rests on the block and has the projection inserted into the slot.

In the drawings accompanying the application:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a post and bracket embodying the invention, parts being broken away to show the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the bracket removed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting block; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a different form of post.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, there is shown, a supporting post 10 which is an elongated metal extrusion, preferably aluminum, of the cross-section shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outside walls are slotted at 11 on all four sides, leaving corners 12 which are inter-connected by diagonal webs 13.

At the top of the post is a cylindrical plunger 14 partially closed at the top by an annular flange 33 which is provided with four vertical slots 15 equidistantly spaced to receive the webs 13. The portions of the side wall of the plunger between the slots are located within the spaces inside the side walls of the post and between the webs 13. A coiled spring 16 is interposed between the upper ends of webs 13 and the annular flange at the top of the plunger. A rubber pad 17 is attached to the upper end of the plunger.

Another rubber pad 18 the post 10.

The post 10 is intended to be supported in a vertical position between two fixed surfaces such as the floor and ceiling of a room. The post is cut to a length shorter than the distance between these surfaces, but the overall length of the post 10, spring 16, plunger 14 and pads 17 and 18 is greater, so that the pad 17 can be placed against the upper fixed surface in the desired location, the spring 16 compressed by pushing upward on the post and the lower pad of the post placed directly below the upper end. When the post is released the spring expands, forcing the pad against the lower fixed surface and the upper pad 17 against the upper surface, securely fastening the post in place.

On the post is a bracket structure for, supporting a shelf or the like. It consists of four parts, a bracket 19, a block 20, a bolt 21 having a knurled head 22, and a nut 23.

The block 20 is preferably an aluminum extrusion of the cross-section shown in Figure 4. The block has an elongated rib 24 on one side and a groove 25 in the opposite side. The block is drilled to receive the shank of the bolt 21.

The nut 23 is drilled or punched and tapped to receive bolt 21; The nut is narrower in width than the width of slots 11 in the post 10 but is longer than the distance between the webs 13 just inside the side walls of the post 10.

Bracket, 19 is composed of a vertical web 26 and a horizontal upper flange 27. The web 26 is generally triangular but is cut away at 26a to provide a slot at the lower corner adjacent the post, as shown in Figure 1, to receive the head 22 of the bolt. Preferably the web 26 extends downward at 28 between the head 22 of the bolt but does not rest thereon. The purpose of this will appear presently.

The flange 27 is extended beyond the end of the web adjacent the post, and the edges are slotted at 27a to form a T-shaped end 29.

To attach the bracket structure to the post the nut 23 is loosened on bolt 21, long way of the nut aligned with the appropriate slot 11, and the not passed through the slot, with rib 24 located in the slot. The upper end of block 20 is located at the proper height and bolt 21 is rotated. Any tendency for the nut to turn appreciably is prevented by the ends thereof striking the webs 13 in post 10, so that the bolt and nut securely clamp the block 20 in position when the bolt is tightened.

The bracket 19 is then turned so the web 26 is horizontal and the T-shaped head 29 is inserted in slot 11 above block 20. The bracket 19 is then rotated to a position wherein the web depends downwardly and the head 29 is located inside of the side walls of the post on opposite sides of the slot 11. The bracket is then lowered until the flange 27 rests on the top of block 20 and the end of the web 19 adjacent the post 10 is received in groove 25 in block 20.

The bracket structure can easily be adjusted to any desired height on the post by simply loosening bolt 21 and sliding block 20 up or down. It is also readily removable by simply turning the bolt until the long dimension of the nut is aligned with the slot and can be pulled through it. 1 g

The only strain on the bolt 21 is the tension created therein by the tightening of the nut and what slight shearing stress is created by a straight downward load.

is attached to the bottom of The T-shaped projection 29-takes substantially all of the load placed on the brackets Figure illustrates a somewhat difierent cross-sectional shape for the post. It comprises a cylindrical side wall 30 connected by webs 31. The side wall 30 of the post is relieved at 32 to receive electrical wiring for lamps either attached to the post or placed on a shelf, thus eliminating any interference with the T-shaped projections on the bracket structures attached to the post.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, easily installed and adjusted fixture support that is remarkably strong, yet is easily fabricated.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fixture support comprising an upright tubular post having a longitudinal slot therein, a vertically elongated supporting block attached to and overlying said post on opposite sides of said slot, said block having a rib received in said slot, means removably attaching said block to said post, and a bracket extending outwardly from said post and having a portion resting on top of said block, said bracket having a projection extending into said post through said slot, the thickness of said projection being less than the width of said slot and the width of the portion of said projection within said post being greater than the width of said slot, said bracket having a depending web, and means on said block engaging said web for preventing lateral movement of the latter relative to the block.

2. A fixture support comprising an upright tubular post having a longitudinal slot therein, a vertically elongated supporting block attached to and overlying said post on opposite sides of said slot, said block having a vertical groove in the side opposite said post, means removably attaching said block to said post and a bracket extending outwardly from said post and having a portion resting on top of said block, said bracket having a depending web, the end of said web adjacent said post being located in said groove, said bracket having a projection extending into said post through said slot, the thickness of said projection being less than the width of said slot and the width of the portion of said projection within said post being greater than the width of said slot.

3. A fixture support comprising an upright tubular post having a longitudinal slot therein, a vertically elongated snpporting block attached to and overlying said post on opposite sides of said slot, said block having a vertical groove in the side opposite said post, said block being attached to said post by a bolt having an enlarged head spaced outwardly from said block, and a bracket extending outwardly from said post, and having a portion resting on top of said block, said bracket having a depending web with a slot in the lower edge thereof receiving the head of said bolt, said bracket having a projection extending into said post through said slot, the thickness of the projection being less than the width of said slot, and the width of the section of said projection within said post being greater than the width of said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 12,231 Keil June 21, 1904 711,759 Chmelitzek Oct. 21, 1902 1,041,264 Freud Oct. 15, 1912 1,875,977 Beckwith Sept. 6, 1932 2,436,800 Fryzel et a1. Mar. 2, 1948 2,533,949 Maus Dec. 12, 1950 2,703,692 Felix Mar. 8, 1955 2,876,978 Robinson Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,618 Germany Mar. 1, 1906 

